Lighted hair extension

ABSTRACT

A lighted hair extension that includes at least one hair portion and at least one light source coupled to the hair portion for emitting light. The lighted hair extension may also include an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to hair extensions and more particularly to lighted hair extensions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Hair extensions are available in a wide variety of colors, configurations, and designs. Moreover, hair extensions are also available in a wide range of materials including genuine mammalian hair or artificial hair. Despite the wide variety of available hair extensions, the inventor has recognized that such hair extensions are not lighted and thus are not readily visible in nighttime and/or poor lighting conditions. Accordingly, the inventor has recognized that a need exists for a lighted hair extension that draws attention to the hair extension and thus its user regardless of whether the nighttime or poor lighting conditions exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In order to solve these and other needs in the art, the inventor hereof has succeeded in designing a lighted hair extension that in one exemplary embodiment includes at least one hair portion and at least one light source coupled to the hair portion for emitting light. The lighted hair extension may also include an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.

[0004] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples below, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighted hair extension according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a front view of the lighted hair extension shown in FIG. 1 wherein the light sources are off and not emitting light;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lighted hair extension shown in FIG. 1 wherein the light sources are off and not emitting light;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a side view of the lighted hair extension shown in FIG. 1 wherein the light sources are off and not emitting light;

[0010]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the power source container of the lighted hair extension shown in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the lighted hair extension shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the lighted hair extension shown in FIG. 1 with portions removed to illustrate the controller, light sources and conductive leads interconnecting the light sources with the controller;

[0013]FIG. 8 is a front view of a lighted hair extension according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 9 is a front view of a lighted hair extension according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0015]FIG. 10 is a front view of a lighted hair extension according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding features throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a lighted hair extension, generally indicated by reference number 10, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the lighted hair extension 10 includes a hair portion 12 and is provided with one or more light sources 14 (shown in phantom) coupled to the hair portion 12. The lighted hair extension 10 may also include an attachment device 16 for attaching the lighted hair extension 10 to a user, such as to the user's head or existing natural hair. During operation, the light sources 14 illuminate a portion of the hair member 12. Additionally, or alternatively, the light sources 14 may illuminate a portion of the user (e.g., user's hair or head) when the lighted hair extension 10 is attached to the user. Illumination of the hair member 12 and/or user draws attention to the hair extension 10 and thus its user regardless of whether nighttime and/or poor lighting conditions exist. Accordingly, the present invention provides a more functional hair extension than that which is presently recognized in the art.

[0018] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, the hair portion 12 includes a proximal end portion 18, a distal end portion 20, and a braid portion 22 extending substantially between the proximal and distal end portions 18 and 20. The hair portion 12 may comprise a wide range of colors including, but not limited to, blond, brown, black, red, etc. In addition, the hair portion 12 may be formed from genuine human or other mammalian hair. Alternatively, the hair portion 12 may instead comprise a material (e.g., rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, among other suitable materials) adapted to resemble mammalian hair.

[0019] The braid portion 22 of the may comprise interwoven or braided strands of either genuine or artificial hair. Alternatively, the braid portion 22 need not actually be braided but instead may comprise a material (e.g., rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, among other suitable materials) adapted to resemble braided human hair. The braid portion 22 may also comprise a wide range of colors including, but not limited to, blond, brown, black, red, etc.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 6, the braid portion 22 of the hair portion 12 is substantially hollow and defines a cavity 24 therein. The cavity 24 is sized to receive conductive leads 26 and the light sources 14, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises LEDs. As described below, the conductive leads 26 interconnect the LEDs 14 to a power source 28.

[0021] Still referring to FIG. 6, the hair portion 12 may also include a light-altering portion that is positioned relative to the LEDs 14 for receiving and altering light 30 produced by the LEDs 14. The light-altering portion of the hair portion 12 refracts, reflects, diffracts, and/or disperses the light 30 such that the altered light 32 illuminates a portion of the hair portion 12 and/or a portion of the user's hair when the lighted hair extension 10 is attached to the user's hair.

[0022] The exemplary light-altering portion shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 comprises a surface 34 of the hair portion 12. The surface 34 is positioned relative to the LEDs 14 so that the surface 34 receives light from the LEDs 14. Although the surface 34 may be transparent, translucent, opaque, or a combination thereof, the surface 34 is translucent in the illustrated embodiment. When the LEDs 14 are emitting light 30, the translucent surface 34 receives and alters the light 30 such that the altered light 32 produces a visibly pleasing sparkling light effect. Alternatively, the surface 34 of the hair portion 12 may be opaque and provided with openings or holes to allow the light 30 from the light source 14 to escape or pass through the holes, thus becoming visible to a user.

[0023] Optionally, hair strands 35 and a decorative bead 37 may be disposed at the distal end portion 20 to enhance the realism and/or appearance of the lighted hair extension 10. The hair strands 35 may comprise a wide range of colors including, but not limited to, blond, brown, black, red, etc. In addition, a wide range of materials may be used for the hair strands 35 including both artificial hair (i.e., a material adapted to resemble mammalian hair) and genuine human or other mammalian hair. It should be noted, however, that the same material(s) need not be used for the braid portion 22 as that used for the hair strands 35.

[0024] To allow the lighted hair extension 10 to be attached to a user, the attachment device 16 in the exemplary embodiment is disposed at the proximal end portion 18 of the hair portion 12. The attachment device 16 may include any of a wide range of hair attachment devices including, but not limited to, hair clips, jaw clips, straight pins, bobby pins, hair combs, barrettes, and elastic bands (e.g., elastic pony tail holders), among other known attachment devices. In addition, a wide range of materials may be used for the attachment device 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment device 16 includes an aluminum clip member 36.

[0025] The lighted hair extension 10 also includes a power source container 38 disposed at the proximal end portion 18 of the hair portion 12. The power source container 38 includes a battery compartment or chamber 40 adapted to receive the power source 28 therein.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the power source 28 comprises two three-volt lithium batteries 42 and 44 electrically connected in series. However, it should be noted that the power source 28 includes any suitable means of providing energy to the light source 14 including, but not limited to, renewable batteries, rechargeable batteries, disposable batteries, and other suitable power sources. Accordingly, the power source mechanism should not be limited to the power source mechanisms described and shown herein.

[0027] Still referring to FIG. 5, an electrically insulating sleeve 46 is disposed along the interior sidewalls of the battery compartment 40 to prevent the batteries 42 and 44 from physically contacting the battery compartment sidewalls. The sleeve 46 thus prevents short circuits that might otherwise occur if the batteries 42 and 44 physical contacted the sidewalls.

[0028] To allow user access to the battery compartment 40, for example, to install, replace, or remove batteries, the power source container 38 includes a removable cap 50. The cap 50 may be engaged with the power source container 38 using a suitable fastening system or method (e.g., an interference fit, resilient ribs, among others). By way of example only, the cap 50 in the illustrated embodiment is threadedly engageable with the power source container 38.

[0029] A wide range of materials may be used for the power source container 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the power source container 38 is formed from aluminum. In addition, a glossy material may be disposed over the top of the power source container 38 and provide a gem-like appearance thereat.

[0030] The light source 14 will now be described in more detail. In the illustrated embodiment, the light source 14 comprises five LEDs. Alternatively, any suitable light source may be employed including but not limited to halogen, incandescent, laser, fluorescent, magnetic, fiber optics, and the like. In addition, any number of (i.e., one or more) light sources may be used depending on the particular application. Consequently, the present invention should not be regarded as limited to the particular type and number of light sources shown and described herein.

[0031] Optionally, one or more of the various LEDs 14 may produce light that has at least one attribute (e.g., color, intensity, blink speed, hue, saturation, brightness, etc.) different than the light produced by the other LEDs 14. By way of example, one or more LEDs 14 may produce blue-colored light, whereas the other LEDs 14 may produce red-colored light. In addition, and rather than producing colored light, one or more of the LEDs 14 could produce broadband light that travels through a colored filter.

[0032] Indeed, the lighted hair extension 10 can be configured to produce any of a wide range of colored light depending at least in part on user preferences. User preferences may in turn be based on any number of factors including, but not limited to, the color of the clothes the user is wearing and/or the type of event (e.g., dance, sporting event, etc.) the user will attend while wearing the lighted hair extension 10. For example, the user may prefer a lighted hair extension 10 that produces colored light consistent with the home team's colors when the user is attending a sporting event, such as a football game.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, each LED 14 is positioned within the substantially hollow portion or cavity 24 of the hair portion 12. The LEDs 14 are oriented to direct light 30 towards the surface 34 of the hair portion 12, which in the illustrated embodiment is translucent and thus light-altering. Alternatively, each LED 14 need not be positioned entirely within the cavity 24 of the hair portion 12. Instead, one or more of the LEDs 14 may be partially or entirely positioned external to the hair portion 12. In such an alternative embodiment, one or more of the LEDs may be attached to the outer surface 34 of the hair portion 12 with a suitable fastener, such as an adhesive.

[0034] Still referring to FIG. 6, the various LEDs 14 are interconnected to the power source 28 by the conductive leads 26. A substantial part of the conductive leads 26 is positioned within the hair portion cavity 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the conductive leads 26 are disposed on a flexible ribbon cable 27, although other conductive leads are also possible.

[0035] The operation of the various LEDs 14 is controlled by a controller in accordance with user input. In one embodiment, the controller includes an integrated circuit/printed circuit board assembly 51 (i.e., a integrated circuit board mounted on a printed circuit board) disposed on the ribbon cable 27 (shown in FIG. 7) and a switch 52 (shown in FIG. 6). The switch 52 may, for example, allow the user to select from among various display modes for the LEDs 14. Such display modes may include, but are not limited to, an off-light mode, an on-light mode, a mode in which each of the LEDs 14 simultaneously emit steady or non-flashing light, a mode in which the LEDs 14 emit light intermittently, a mode in which the various LEDs 14 illuminate or blink at different times in accordance with a predetermined sequence or order, and/or a mode in which the LEDs 14 emit light randomly.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the switch 52 comprises a compression switch formed by the cap 50 and the power source container 38. To energize or activate the LEDs 14, the cap 50 is threaded onto the power source container 38 which forces the batteries 42 and 44 into contact with each other and into contact with terminals within the battery compartment 40. Depending on the particular application in which the lighted hair extension 10 will be used, however, the switch 52 may comprise any one of a wide range of other suitable switch means including, but not limited to, motion-responsive switches, push-button switches, etc.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a lighted hair extension 110 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the lighted hair extension 110 includes a hair portion 112 and a single incandescent light source 114 (shown in phantom) coupled to the hair portion 112, although other light sources are also possible. For attaching the lighted hair extension 110 to a user, the lighted hair extension 110 also include a suitable attachment device 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment device 116 comprises a hair barrette disposed at a proximal end portion 118 of the hair portion 112. During operation, the incandescent light source 114 illuminates a portion of the hair portion 112 and/or a portion of the user when the lighted hair extension is attached to the user.

[0038] The hair portion 112 may be formed from unbraided and substantially straight genuine human or other mammalian hair. Alternatively, the hair portion 12 may instead comprise a material (e.g., rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, among other suitable materials) adapted to resemble substantially straight and unbraided mammalian hair. In yet another embodiment, the hair portion 112 may comprise straight synthetic or genuine hair around which is wrapped a string, ribbon, etc.

[0039] Optionally, hair strands 135 and a decorative bead 137 may be disposed at the distal end portion 120 of the hair portion 112 to enhance the realism and/or appearance of the lighted hair extension 110. The hair strands 135 may comprise a wide range of colors including, but not limited to, blond, brown, black, red, etc. In addition, a wide range of materials may be used for the hair strands 135 including both artificial hair (i.e., a material adapted to resemble mammalian hair) and genuine human or other mammalian hair. It should be noted, however, that the same material(s) need not be used for the hair portion 112 as that used for the hair strands 135.

[0040]FIG. 9 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a lighted hair extension 210 wherein the hair portion 212 comprises curly artificial or genuine mammalian hair. As shown, the lighted hair extension 210 is provided with two light sources 214 and a hair comb 216 for attaching the lighted hair extension 210 to a user.

[0041]FIG. 10 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a lighted hair extension 310 wherein the hair portion 312 comprises substantially straight artificial or genuine mammalian hair. As shown, the lighted hair extension 310 is provided with a single light source 314 and an elastic band 316 for attaching the lighted hair extension 310 to a user.

[0042] In another exemplary form, the present invention provides a method that in one embodiment comprises: providing a lighted hair extension 10, 110, 210, 310 including at least one hair portion 12, 112, 212, 312 and at least one light source 14, 114, 214, 314 coupled to the hair portion 12, 112, 212, 312 for emitting light; and attaching the lighted hair extension 10, 110, 210, 310 to a user, such as to the user's head or existing hair. The method may further comprise activating the light source 14, 114, 214, 314 to illuminate a portion of the hair portion 12, 112, 212, 312 and/or a portion of the user. The lighted hair extension 10, 110, 210, 310 may also include an attachment device 16, 116, 216, 316 that is used to attach the lighted hair extension 10, 110, 210, 310 to the user.

[0043] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. Thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed:
 1. A lighted hair extension comprising at least one hair portion, at least one light source coupled to the hair portion for emitting light, and an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.
 2. The lighted hair extension of claim 1, wherein the hair portion comprises a material adapted to resemble mammalian hair.
 3. The lighted hair extension of claim 2, wherein the hair portion comprises a rubber material.
 4. The lighted hair extension of claim 1, wherein the hair portion comprises genuine mammalian hair.
 5. The lighted hair extension of claim 1, wherein the hair portion comprises a braid portion.
 6. The lighted hair extension of claim 1, wherein the lighted hair extension comprises a plurality of light sources.
 7. The lighted hair extension of claim 6, further comprising at least one conductive lead disposed within the hair portion and interconnecting the light sources.
 8. The lighted hair extension of claim 6, further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the light sources such that the light sources emit light intermittently.
 9. The lighted hair extension of claim 1, wherein the light source is at least partially positioned within the hair portion.
 10. The lighted hair extension of claim 9, wherein the light source is positioned substantially entirely within the hair portion.
 11. The lighted hair extension of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hair strands disposed at a distal end portion of the hair portion.
 12. The lighted hair extension of claim 1, wherein the hair portion comprises a light-altering portion positioned relative to the light source for receiving and altering light from the light source such that the altered light illuminates at least one of a portion of the hair portion and a portion of a user when the lighted hair extension is attached to the user.
 13. The lighted hair extension of claim 12, wherein the light-altering portion alters the light by at least one of refracting, reflecting, diffracting, and dispersing.
 14. The lighted hair extension of claim 1, further comprising a power source container coupled to the hair portion, the power source container including: a chamber adapted to receive at least one power source therein; and a removable cap for allowing access to the chamber and for switchably connecting the light source to the power source.
 15. A lighted hair extension comprising a hair portion, a plurality of LEDs positioned within the hair portion, and an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.
 16. The lighted hair extension of claim 15, wherein the hair portion comprises a braid portion.
 17. The lighted hair extension of claim 15, wherein the hair portion comprises a light-altering portion positioned relative to the LEDs for receiving and altering light from the LEDs by at least one of refracting, reflecting, diffracting, and dispersing such that the altered light illuminates at least one of a portion of the hair portion and a portion of a user when the lighted hair extension is attached to the user.
 18. The lighted hair extension of claim 15, further comprising at least one conductive lead disposed within the hair portion and interconnecting the LEDs.
 19. The lighted hair extension of claim 15, further comprising a power source container coupled to the hair portion, the power source container including: a chamber adapted to receive at least one power source therein; and a removable cap for allowing access to the chamber and for switchably connecting the LEDs to the power source.
 20. A lighted hair extension comprising at least one light source for emitting light, an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user, and a hair braid portion including a light-altering portion positioned relative to the light source for receiving and altering light from the light source by at least one of refracting, reflecting, diffracting,.and dispersing such that the altered light illuminates at least one of a portion of the hair braid portion and a portion of a user when the lighted hair extension is attached to the user.
 21. The lighted hair extension of claim 20, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs positioned within the hair braid portion.
 22. The lighted hair extension of claim 20, further comprising a power source container coupled to the hair braid portion, the power source container including: a chamber adapted to receive at least one power source therein; and a removable cap for allowing access to the chamber and for switchably connecting the light source to the power source.
 23. A method comprising: providing a lighted hair extension including at least one hair portion and at least one light source coupled to the hair portion for emitting light; and attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising activating the light source to illuminate at least one of a portion of the hair portion and a portion of the user.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the lighted hair extension further comprises an attachment device, and wherein attaching includes using the attachment device to attach the lighted hair extension to the user. 